This corner of space

A reminder to my Generation.

2009-10-05T13:19:00.006-04:00

That is the Earth, our home, it is not our mother, it does not think or care about us, it is just a rock that will go on without us if we disappear one day. We are the biggest and most important resident of this house, this abode for life in an otherwise (apparently at least) deserted neighborhood. We have also started renovating the place, slowly at first (Agriculture, fire, preindustrial civilization) but now picking up at ever increasing pace (industrial revolution too now) and affecting the lives of almost every single resident. Some have adapted, adopted (domestication) or simply moved out (extinction) of the house due to our changes to it. The problem of course is that their is no one to tell us when to stop, when we are in danger of collapsing the house on top of all of us, or making the residents we depend on move out. No one has ever seen the blueprints to the house, been shown its weak and critical points and systems to us or even given a decent tour of the place. We are in effect building on what could be very shaky foundations and are unable to put on the parking brakes lest we risk a chaos that could still bring down the roof on all of us anyways. We only barely missed (several times) blowing up our entire section of the house years ago. Our people demand that we improve the lot of everyone and peacefully correct the gaps that separate the winners of our history from the losers. They will not stand for any halt of that process and especially not for one that will keep them in poverty. The 5-6 billion poor in the world will not accept a cap on their standard of living especially if the rich billion get to keep theirs. Stagnation has always led to chaos down the road, faster when that stagnation is self-imposed. We are in effect unable to change course but we can still avert disaster if we can just figure out the right pace to go forward with.

With this analogy I have shown to you that we are in a vice of both having a possibility that we will collapse the resource and ecosystem base that keeps modern civilization and the process of globalization going due to over eagerness. While also having the problem that we can't really put the brakes on that process unless we want to risk social chaos that could collapse civilization all together. This is problem with modern global civilization it is no longer resilient to things that in more primitive economies and civilizations could of endured due to our interconnectedness. The world economy is now much like the economy of the late roman empire, where all sections were utterly dependent on each other for survival. Any collapse of the global economic network and brittle support structure would likely result in a new dark age. But this time made a thousand times worse by its global reach, the looming threat of environmental catastrophe following it and finally the fact the loss of resulting from the chaos will make it seem like the end of days. Billions would die and the survivors would have little to look forward to other then picking through the rubble and trying rebuild while anarchy rages all around them. The few remaining lights of civilization that survived the fall would soon find themselves swamped with refugees and be subject to constant raids by roaming groups of pillagers. A Neo-Feudalism is likely to follow that would likely hold back civilization for millennia and would be unable to deal with the problems that we have created for them. This Dark age scenario could be the result of a myriad array of problems and likely to come unexpected and catch us unprepared. Global civilization must walk a high tightrope for mankind to succeed, nay to survive this harsh universe. Because it is likely that the universe will not give us a second chance, nor forgive for our transgressions.

So then why I am addressing you guys, members of my fellow generation, what makes us and our children so important? It is not because we are the last born but rather that we are the first-born of a new age. An age of novel opportunities and terrifying prospects that could make or break humanity. We are the first generation who may be able to permanently end the Malthusian trap that has held back mankind for so long. If we can keep Malthus and the forces of nature at bay until 2050 when the UN predicts population will peak then we my friends have largely succeeded at our goal. For a peak in population would allow us to put on the brakes on growth without having to worry about having to care for more and more people. It would allow mankind in effect to take a collective breather and take a look around at our surroundings and assess what must be done to repair the damage of climb upwards.

We my friends must also work to keep men from destroying their own creation and prevent it from collapsing. The only way we able to fix the damage from our development is by completing the process and preventing global regression. Global problems require global solutions that will involve all nations. We therefore must work our hardest to build an effective global governance structure that can deal with all global issues and keep a handle on global activity in order to prevent a world dominated by private interests. A global market must have a global government to effectively regulate and stimulate it. The alternative is a chaotic world economy whose crisis's will make the financial crisis look like hiccups. Those potential crisis's also will carry with them the potential to collapse and set back civilization something that must be prevented at all costs.

None of this will be easy as the inertia of the current global system and disorganization of global power make reform and change difficult to accomplish. Yet we can't just give up as every future generation will either celebrate or condemn our deeds. If we can rise above history and overcome the challenges that face us then mankind and life on in general will have a much better future and will be given the possibility to spread beyond the Earth and achieve true glory as a mature space faring civilization. Should we fail and let disaster take hold then we condemn our descendent's to lives of poverty and mankind to a likely eventual extinction.
It is likely that the vast majority of civilizations in the universe reach this point and fail to go to the next step considering the fact that no one seems to be nearby. If we can make that next step then we will prove to the universe that we are not like the others and that we deserve to survive and thrive.
The choice of course is ultimately ours.
Chose wisely, friends.

America's needs.

2009-04-04T10:18:00.003-04:00

America as of late has built up a obsession with our own downfall.
We see many threats in the world real, or imagined.
We see them eating away at our position threatening to knock us off our perch.
We see old fores returning and new ones emerging.
We see a grand conspiracy lining up to destroy us.
Yet we forget the words of one of our greatest presidents, who spoke of who will be the author our destruction.

At what point then is the approach of danger to be expected? I answer, if it ever reach us, it must spring up amongst us. It cannot come from abroad. If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen, we must live through all time, or die by suicide. -Abraham Lincoln
If we are still that nation of freemen Lincoln spoke of then no force of man can destroy us except that which we unleash upon ourselves.
But we still have this obsession with the world, this psychological need to lead it.
The world indeed has become accustomed to this and has come to rely on it.
But can we really afford it anymore?
This role of superpower is changing us.
The badge if you will of the global cop is changing our attitudes.
It has given us this current hubris, paranoia, control freak nature that is slowly driving us mad.
This position has allowed for the creation of vast incestuous relationships and corruption to infect and subvert our societal institutions.
We now jail and disenfranchise a huge percentage of our population in pursuit of goals that have less to do with improving society as they do with minorities and elites trying to impose their will on society.
We no longer have a safety valve to let the more edgy parts of our society out.
We no longer have the frontier and we no longer have a true national purpose anymore.
It seems that we no longer wish to build or really maintain that city on a hill.

Yet we know that America has and can do amazing things.
We can create that new frontier once more.
We can build civilization to a higher level.
We can become the people who will remembered for all time.
We have been and are using that new frontier.
But this time, this time we can go and stay, go and build and ascend to something higher.
We can be industrious again, and regain our bearings.
We can escape a potential national suicide and become sane again once more.
We can show the world that we don't to all compete for our survival.
To quote JFK not merely peace in our time but peace for all time.
To unlock the infinite ocean that lies before us, to open the door that blocks our way to mankind's ascension is achievement for all time not just for this time.
Every petty war, every little crisis, every little rivalry becomes moot when mankind tastes the waters of the infinite ocean in front us.
To find the key that opens the door to mankind's immortality is an achievement for the ages and an immortal honor for whoever does it.
We can break the cycle of history if we can have the courage and the smarts to do so.
Lets hope that day is soon.

Peering towards a future crisis.

2008-10-14T15:38:00.003-04:00

We have seen in the past few weeks, a crisis in the global financial system not seen since the great depression. Banks not knowing the true value of the assets they hold have been unwilling to lend to each other or to anyone for that matter. This has caused a shortage of credit in the world markets sending them tumbling out of control. However as the above article points out compared to others in percentage we have actually lost less wealth. This coupled with the wide-spread belief that this crisis came from America has set the stage for something even more dangerous then a possible global depression.
The stage has been set for widespread demagoguery, widespread protectionism, widespread civil conflict and finally the rise of dangerous new ideologies.
In the Great depression we saw the rise of fascism in Europe out of the ashes of Europe's economies. If this situation deteriorates further and we do enter a true global recession/depression then we can expect history to possibly repeat itself once again. But this time we may not have the luxury of suffering through a long contraction while these new movements build their strength.

http://www.newsweek.com/id/163349

Pakistan's economy is essentially running out of steam, while Islamic militants build strength in the uncivilized corners of the country. If the economy collapses and either unstable Pakistan's generals or the militants seize power then they may very well have a final showdown with India and if during that war they desperately use their stockpile of nukes then that will deal a literal death blow to the world economy and possibly produce (according to some calculations) a miniature nuclear winter.
Which is something that we truly don't need to deal with right now.

Thinking about Iraq and the paths we have taken.

2008-07-12T09:47:00.003-04:00

Our debacle in Iraq has lately seemed to be entering its endgame that will result in some sort of tactical victory for us but at a huge cost.
This entire war many hold could had been a lot shorter had we made the right decisions right at the beginning and not made mistakes like disbanding the entire army and trying to make it anew.
Yet was a debacle in Iraq inevitable as the invasion which is argued in the link in the title?
Even if we had done all we could off too maintain the state and reform it, would Iraq still travel down the same road?
The state that was defeated was essentially broken by sanctions when we found it anyways so one could possibly understand why Bremer dissolved it and the Iraqi army.
Yet what might of happened had we not done those things?
The Iraqi army would of been able to at least keep a lid on the looting and all those wonderful things that happened across the country post invasion but would they of done it like they usually did with force and brutality?
The Iraqi officer core would also be cause for concern because they might of kept their shia and kurdish countrymen out of their ranks and cling to their power.
It is also doubtful that anyone could really have stopped Al-Qaeda and the rest of the foreign fighters from entering the country and without competition from the former Ba'athists they might of formed a large part of the developing insurgency and if they were pressed early enough might of incited the sectarian violence sooner.
It is also doubtful Iran would enjoyed a Sunni-dominated Iraqi army and would most likely support the Mahdi army and the other shia insurgent groups.

So it seems that in the end it is doubtful that we could of ever really entirely avoided all this bloodshed, even if we took a radically different path.
It really does seem that that because of the confluence of things that converged in Iraq preventing all the things was likely impossible.

Yet because hindsight is 20/20 there are plenty of other things in hindsight that could prevented plenty of bloodshed.
Had Europe stood up to Hitler WWII as we know might never of happened.
Had the Little Ice age came later or the vikings settled Greenland earlier North America may of been populated by descendants of Norsemen and we would be writing in a viking derived language.
Yet in hindsight I think that greatest opportunity in all of history that was missed was probably our ability to prevent the cold war right after WWII.
If we could of knocked out Stalin and the rest of the ruling clique of the Soviet Union at that time and collapsed it then we could prevented the whole conflict right then and there and established a true Pax Americana and perhaps a effective world government to boot.
Had this prevented Mao from taking power and possibly killed off Mr. Kalashnikov then the few million from the bomb and the aftermath would of been offset.
But we didn't because we aren't like that, we don't betray former comrades in arms after the most destructive war known to mankind. We were truly reluctant to become the leader leader of the free world as we still are today.
The consequences of collapsing the Soviets in such a way would also taint us in the eyes of the world, as would ensuring the Pax Americana.
So when we ask ourselves what our role is in the world and look with depression at the rise of the twin Asian giants of India and China who will shape the world we live in a way not seen since our own rise.
But remember there is only one path and that is that we take but we can take more then one path.

Iraq is more or less over.

2008-06-17T06:45:00.003-04:00

So anyways guys Iraq has improved a lot lately (a story that the MSM has been ignoring lately) and instead now talks about our recent troubles in Afghanistan. I would however like to talk more about the former for this little discussion.
However let me lay some points and ground rules first.

1. Please don't talk about the politics of the invasion and why we invaded and all that stuff because thats going to get us nowhere if we can't past that. Yes Iraq has been a rather large strategic blunder on our part but we can't change the past so arguing whether we should of invaded in the first place is a waste of thought.

2. Iraq is not Vietnam, in fact Afghanistan is far more similar to Vietnam than Iraq ever has been. Here a few obvious reasons why, firstly in Vietnam we only fought one group the North Vietnamese's communists whether they were guerrillas or regulars they still fought for the same thing and on the same side. Not so in Iraq where we have fought dozens of small groups instead of one large bloc. This has allowed us to play the old game of divide and rule that has handed Al-Qaeda in Iraq a major defeat.

In contrast in Afghanistan we have been mainly fighting the Taliban with few others groups in opposition to it. However the final reason it is not like Vietnam at all is because no one is backing the opposition groups like any of the superpowers did in either Afghanistan or Vietnam. Sure Iran is probably allowing its weapons to be smuggled across the border and maybe sends a few advisor's to help the Shitte militias become something like Hezbollah but thats nothing compared to what we or the soviets did in any of proxy wars.

http://www.economist.com/opinion/displayStory.cfm?Story_ID=11535688
http://www.economist.com/opinion/displaystory.cfm?story_id=11540858

Feeling war Fatigue yet?

Ok, so on to the actual discussion.
I have linked to two articles in the economist for some background on the issue and if anyone wants more links I'll get some.

So anyways lately Iraq's government has been doing quite well for itself in fact
I might say that has even gotten a bit cocky after its performance in Basra, Sadr city and its campaign to finish of Al-Qaeda.

In fact it seems that even Al-Sadr the one who caused all this chaos earlier this year has been forced to disband most of his unruly militia so that he can maintain control over it and so that he can take part in provincial elections later this year.
The Sunni's in Anbar and elsewhere also seem to be quite controlled with all that support we have been giving to their awakenings movements. However Al-Maliki better make more moves to integrate them into the police and army soon lest he cause an actual civil war between frustrated Sunni gunman and security forces. I still doubt though that Iraq will return to the Chaos of 2006 because once a people have seen the abyss as Iraqi's have I doubt they would willingly return to it. They are also becoming more confident in the abilities of the security forces and have more hope for the future now then they did months ago.

But lately two main issue's have come to my attention concerning Iraq, first the SOFA agreement that is supposed to determine the future of American troops once the UN mandate expires this year has most likely been put on the back burner until the new administration takes office. The Iraqi's have refused to sign this agreement because they think it undermines Iraqi sovereignty which it kinda does, so we have been haggling with them so that they can sign it but they have sent signals that they would prefer to discuss with the next administration. However it seems that an interim agreement needed until a deal is signed to keep our troops in Iraq legal.

Secondly as this link below shows Iraqi oil production has been steadily increasing past pre-war levels.
http://nextbigfuture.com/2008/06/iraq-oil-update.html

Unlike many other oil producers Iraq has invited western oil companies to help Iraq modernize its oil-producing infrastructure and leapfrog production. This is really good news because not only have Oil prices been sky high lately but most of the worlds oil (75%) is under the control of national oil companies who for their host countries serve as piggy banks to fund military build up or lavish social spending. This leaves little cash for investment in improvements in technology or even maintenance of infrastructure. Which has consequently kept output levels the same for sometime now but can now no longer keep up with the demand of developing countries. Therefore by the law of supply and demand when demand rises (developing countries) and supply remains stagnant (no investment) we get a rise in price. So the reason why this is so important is that eventually oil and therefore gas prices should lower when more production comes online.

http://www.economist.com/opinion/displayStory.cfm?Story_ID=11454989

Ok that was a lot of writing, Wall of text is over!

Misson accomplished!

2008-05-26T09:37:00.002-04:00

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7411113.stm

Phoenix touched down on the Red Planet at 7:53 p.m. Eastern Time, May 25, 2008, in an arctic region called Vastitas Borealis or the northern polar plains of Mars.
They plan to do a variety of experiments to look for life and understand what the environment of the northern plain is like. However unfortunately barring a miracle Phoenix is unlikely to survive the harsh Martian winter and will be entombed in ice for quite a while waiting for someone to discover it.

So what do you guys think?

2008-03-17T18:11:00.001-04:00

facepalm

2008-03-12T16:06:00.002-04:00

This is what happens when you don't have a constitution.
You get stupid crap like this.
Nanny state, thy name is Britain.

Some Iranian knats tried to threaten three US ships.

2008-01-07T18:05:00.000-05:00

Five Iranian speedboats of their revolutionary guard navy tried too threaten U.S ships earlier today.
Apparently it was just a feint.
But the crews of the ship didn't think so and were just about too fire their guns in self-defense when the boats sped away.
Personally I think they should of just fired on them too scare em a little so this type of incident would not happen again.
However it appears that when the boats sped away they dropped white containers into the water.
What they were, buoy's, trash or even mines is unknown.
Iran has the capability however of blocking off the straights of Hormuz with mines, which would probably cause chaos and steep rises in oil prices. So it makes a recent decision too retire the last of our minesweepers kinda stupid, don't ya think?

2008!

2008-01-01T00:48:00.000-05:00

Too better future everyone!
Happy New years!

Benazir is no longer with us.

2007-12-27T18:32:00.000-05:00

Banazir Bhutto has been assassinated in a suicide attack at a political rally she was holding.
The likely perpetrators for this attack are Islamist extremists as Al-Qaeda has already taken credit for this attack.
I know though that they feared her, because even if she was corrupt and a little incompetent she still striked fear into their hearts.
Why?
Because she was a women and she ruled over them something they could never accept nor allow.

Twas the night before Christmas.

2007-12-24T23:51:00.000-05:00

And most were not stirring.
Those who have had large amounts of sugar however were.
Merry Christmas to you all!

Old/10, Also communists lie a lot.

2007-12-17T16:39:00.000-05:00

Mmm... Overestimation

While this may be news too some this is nothing new for me.
I have already heard and figured this one out because when you add everything up it won't make sense, hence the correction.
Likewise as for China's future expect to be a bumpy and turbulent rise not the peaceful nor smooth one that the government preaches.
Add the facts that it has a nice large bulge of young men who won't find Chinese wives plus the fact that China is the most rapidly aging society on Earth, oh and the PRC tries to keep a lid on the dozens of riots that happen daily but we can see through the facade.
And remind me what happens when you have a nice large bulge of young economically disadvantaged men who can't find mates?
Oh yeah, we get politics continued by other means i.e unrest, disorder and WAR.

So I took a dialect quiz...

2007-12-13T17:40:00.000-05:00

Results:

Your Linguistic Profile:

65% General American English

20% Yankee

10% Dixie

0% Midwestern

0% Upper Midwestern

What Kind of American English Do You Speak?

Well this is priceless.

2007-12-04T20:13:00.001-05:00

This video is hilarious.
Seriously, I like how they reference Elon Musk at the end there.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fi4fzvQ6I-o&eurl=http://blog.wired.com/underwire/2007/12/catchy-video-ex.html

Three cheers for levelheaded Venezuelans!

2007-12-03T07:25:00.000-05:00

Yes!
May you suffer more defeats Chavez, you little Stalin!

Well, thats a good find.

2007-11-29T15:50:00.000-05:00

Yesterday,
The Slovaks managed to seize some highly enriched uranium from smugglers.
They found about half a kilogram of the stuff in powdered form which should be useful for making a dirty bomb.
And if that were so then what might be the intended target of such a weapon?
I personally suspect that terrorists might try a German city that would cause a lot of economic damage, possibly a city like Hamburg.
Then its always good to hear thing like this, kinda...

Veterans day

2007-11-12T22:16:00.001-05:00

Wazirstan.

2007-11-12T16:17:00.000-05:00

A mini-Afghanistan?

My friends, if you have payed attention to the news lately you may off noticed that Pakistan is in a state of turmoil or as its dictator Musharraf likes too call it a "state of emergency".
He says he declared it because his army and paramilitaries were being routed in Wazirstan.
Though in actuality he took the opportunity to sack his supreme court who were due to deliver their verdict on the legality of his presidency and make himself dictator.

This triggered massive protests that were put down by the police.
All this of course went on when the Taliban were on the offensive and captured large swaths of territory in Swat which is not all that far away from the capital Islamabad.
Let me also remind you that Pakistan has dozens of nukes while Iran (hopefully) has none.
Also Al-Qaeda fights with the Taliban and one may be able to say that they have effectively merged...
So the nightmare Scenario emerges what do we do too stop the formation of a radical warlike state with nuclear weapons with clear links too terrorists groups that would use them against us?

Pick your poison.
1. Do we simply turn the tribal areas of Pakistan into glass (Hard counterinsurgency?) and remove the tribes and a large chunk of Jihadi's (including Osama himself) from the face of the Earth? Do we also deal with the accompanying international shit storm that would follow?

2. Or do we use the skills we have learned in Iraq and apply them there in an open ended counter-insurgency campaign in probably the most remote and hostile (for us) region of the planet for us and trying to divide a tribal society where there is little moral distinction between the Jihadist and the tribesmen?
3. Or do we simply sit back do nothing and watch as a civil war unfolds that if the radicals win could become the cause for regional or even worldwide nuclear conflagration.
So then my friends what do we do?
What do we do too prevent this nightmare from ever happening?

Finally, a decent rebuttal.

2007-11-02T22:29:00.001-04:00

Mark Whittington posted a decent rebuttal of this dumb article from the Guardian about how we are going to rape and destroy the environment of the moon by mining and settling it.

I mean its not like it has been bombarded by the solar wind, asteroids, and comets for eons right? Or that it has no life whatsoever and that it just a close, dry, rock and that humans colonizing it is probably the most interesting thing that has happened to it since its creation?
...
Seriously whats with these people its like they want us to die off or something.

We are sorry Saudi Arabia but this just fits you too well.

2007-10-31T16:15:00.001-04:00

Picture of King Abdullah with Dick Cheny. (Picture not related to subject.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YD38SQ8srXw

The Saudi King Abdullah made the first official state visit from a Saudi Monarch in more then yesterday.
Saudi Arabia and the monarchy itself is known for its extremely oppressive rule that often makes many people call his government a tyranny.
So when he visited the Queen yesterday the military band played a very appropriate song for him.
The Imperial March. (you know the Empire's theme from star wars)

Then again I think this is being a little unfair to him as he constantly has both the west, and crazed Fundamentalist Imans breathing down his neck. Unfortunately apparently he is more concerned with the clerics and a trying to keep the lid on a violent insurgency being waged by Al-Qaeda. Then again I don't think he really is into spreading Islam then making money, he justs writes of checks for the Missionaries.

Lets try this again.

2007-10-30T17:12:00.000-04:00

Ok, my friends.
After a long period of on and off blogging, I'll think I will try to do a daily blog about current events, foreign relations, science, technology, economic happenings and whatever piques my interest.
I will also try to tie this together with my Facebook account by cross-posting what I write, putting my blog link in an obvious place and alert my friends of any changes in my blog.
Here is my Facebook profile link for reference.

http://hs.facebook.com/profile.php?id=675203377

And so I take the plunge...

2007-07-25T09:01:00.000-04:00

Into social networking sites.
I always used to despise these things, writing them off as cesspools of teenage angst and drama.
Yet...
Now I let go of my precepts and dive headfirst into them in order to communicate with my friends more.
Yet my only fear is that I will be sucked into its grasp and become obsessed with it.
Damning me to a petty life I reserve for my sisters...

So I got this rating of my blog.

2007-06-22T17:24:00.000-04:00

Discuss.

I really hate forgetting to study adequately.

2007-06-15T12:19:00.000-04:00

I took my Final for chemistry today and found that the note card I had prepared for it was not as useful at could of been. Apparently I forgot some important formulas that left me scratching my head for a good while and made me embarrassingly finish last. I don't think I flunked it though, thank god.
Methinks that in general I need to step up to the plate more often then I do and just do things.

Putin and Russia.

2007-06-04T16:01:00.000-04:00

No.
Never again Putin, don't push your nation over the edge again.
The Soviet Union is dead, as are the millions of people that fueled its economic 'growth'.
Putin the KGB thug who runs Russia of course wants to regain that power Russia once had.
So he uses the age old Russian strategy of making more and better nukes and then pointing them at places.
All this in response to 12 missile interceptors and a few radar stations the United States (the Hegemon) that are placed in Europe in order to protect her from any missiles the thugcracy in Iran fires at her.
O Putin do not provoke the Hegemonic Anti-Empire for we could very easily become the world nightmare if you do.
We could quash you if we had enough missile defense and most of the worlds military. We could destroy your cities and take your territory as our own. We could annex most of the world and respond with the utmost force to any rebellion.
We could become Rome or the Mongols if we choose to.
Yet we do not.
We don't because we couldn't stomach it, because we don't want to.
We don't want to conquer and slaughter all who stand in our way, we want to trade and Help them.
We can't do that its not us, its not part of our values therefore we are the anti-empire...
While Putin wants to reconsolidate the Russian Empire and impose his will on all that they will conquer.

First post in months and I am full of anger and disgust.

2007-04-17T09:29:00.000-04:00

This tragedy which has claimed the lives of 33 young adults will be remembered.
However partisan hacks and vultures have already descended upon the story like a fresh kill and are using as ammo for their own cause.
Bastards and cowards all of em.

Bigelow and his infinite ambition.

2007-02-26T10:45:00.000-05:00

Alan Boyle recently did an interview with Mr. Bigelow, in which he discussed his plan for construction of Lunar bases.
Of course when I read it I became extremely giddy and my mind filled with images of NASA losing out to a bunch of start-up companies.
I also applauded his choice of L1 to construct the prefabricated lunar bases, as this provides a relatively stable platform for spacecraft construction.
However I wasn't entirely satisfied by how he would get the entire complex down in one piece.
From what *I* can glean from the article he seems to want propulsion modules on the sides of the complex.
Now at least to me I feel its kind of a bad idea to have potentially explosive rockets hitting a extremely abrasive surface.
I was thinking more of a system that might be used for one of the Martian rovers, might be a good idea.
The one where they hover over the landing site and then drop it from a few meters above, except oversize. ( I might edit this post later when I find what I am talking about.)
Even so with that minor exception, I think Bigelow's plan is pretty solid.
Out of all the new start ups I feel that he might very well be the biggest winner.

Man do I love Zubrin.

2007-02-12T08:37:00.000-05:00

I just found his scathing analysis of hydrogen fuel.
Quite an excellent read, I must say.
http://www.thenewatlantis.com/archive/15/zubrin.htm

I like Anarchists, even though I am hardly one.

2007-01-20T13:47:00.000-05:00

http://williamgillis.blogspot.com/
Take a lookesy at this little jewel.
Not only does this guy hand Anarcho-Primitivism its ass on a silver platter, he is also a semi-violent, transhumanist, anti-oppression revolutionary.
I like it!

So I fooled around a bit.

2006-12-08T22:56:00.000-05:00

I added a few links of interest.
Nothing more, nothing less.

Annnddd Nasa steals the spotlight for a moment.

2006-12-06T16:38:00.000-05:00

Hot on the heels of the proposed moon base that has caused glee in many. (Hi Bigelow)

NASA has announced an important discovery that should give another reason to go to Mars.

Mars has liquid water.

At least some in underground reservoirs and perhaps occasionally puddles of very briny water on its surface. (A study a while back confirmed that very briny water can stay liquid on Mars's surface.

Many people including my self have been speculating that there are underground reservoirs of water on Mars.

Now however we have evidence of their existence.

Shall we take a moment too think about the possible uses of these reservoirs by future colonists and explorers.

1. One may be a able to drill for water much like oil on Mars therefore gaining somewhat easier access to water on Mars instead of digging into the permafrost.

2. The water must also be highly briny and choke full of minerals therefore creating an added bonus for extracting the resource.

3. Mars's surface is one of a sterile poison dust-laden desert, therefore any Martian life is probably independent of solar energy and are extremophiles hidden underground. If so they may of possible evolved certain genes that may be of great value to terraforming Mars and/or other planets. Therefore bio tech may turn out to be a great export for Mars, helping to sustain it and keep meddling government bureaucracies from controlling it. (Y halo thar U.N)

Of course though once life is discovered we would go through given stage of OMGWTFBBQ WE ARN'T ALONEZORS?! We should also press on to search life elsewhere, in the solar system and beyond.

For the stars beckon my friends.

I note this.

2006-11-27T19:38:00.000-05:00

That on Blogspot, 1/4 to 1/2 of the blogs seem to be forgien langauge and it is advisible not to be around parents when looking at random blogs.
Mainly because of those blasted porn blogs...
>_>
Likewise I note a serious defiencency in the amount of space releated blogs, much to my dismay.

The Marathonian Chronicles

2006-11-12T18:04:00.000-05:00

I have created a new blog based around a series of stories that tell a large story based on the experinces of the interstellar starship The Marathon and its cadre.
Here is the link, http://triparoundthegalaxy.blogspot.com/
Note, while it does share some similarities with this Marathon.
Such as say, some names and concepts; it is mainly an independent story.
I hope Bungie thinks so too...
I'd rather wish not to raped by large game developers, who write much better stories...

Yes I know...

2006-09-22T14:33:00.000-04:00

I haven't updated that much at all, mainly because I haven't found the time to sit down and write something.
Of course there are other reasons...
Such as Space Empires V being so excellent, well at least its demo.
Oh and school is somewhat impeeding me writing as well, though thankfully homework is not a big problem, at least yet.
Of course though the final reason is that no one looks at this blog, so it makes me feel lonely.
Not that its anything under my control of course, its just I wish more people would read this blog.
-Lawman

When fan art goes to far...

2006-09-05T14:55:00.001-04:00

I mean really, WTF is this?
Yoshi is suffering a concusion from hitting the block.
Mario has stolen Peachs bra and has lowered her cover in the process, oh and he has a pair of panties on his head.
Luigi also has panties on his head and apperantly is trying to rape the female toad...
Wario (I think) is in the background naked?
Bowser is also wearing panties on his head, though I don't understand why he is with peach...
In conclusion though this picture is utterly odd...

And now for something completly awesome looking.

Netscape to discontinue mail service?

2006-08-26T10:53:00.000-04:00

I must say quiet unexpected turn of events, that I have only one thing to say about it.

http://darthno.ytmnd.com/

12 planets?

2006-08-16T14:30:00.000-04:00

http://www.space.com/science's/060816_planet_definition

That's what the International Astronomical Union is saying, in a new draft proposal.

Draft Resolution 5 for GA-XXVI: Definition of a Planet

Contemporary observations are changing our understanding of the Solar System, and it is important that our nomenclature for objects reflect our current understanding. This applies, in particular, to the designation "planets". The word "planet" originally described "wanderers" that were known only as moving lights in the sky. Recent discoveries force us to create a new definition, which we can make using currently available scientific information. (Here we are not concerned with the upper boundary between "planet" and "star".)

The IAU therefore resolves that planets and other Solar System bodies be defined in the following way:

(1) A planet is a celestial body that (a) has sufficient mass for its self-gravity to overcome rigid body forces so that it assumes a hydrostatic equilibrium (nearly round) shape¹, and (b) is in orbit around a star, and is neither a star nor a satellite of a planet.²

(2) We distinguish between the eight classical planets discovered before 1900, which move in nearly circular orbits close to the ecliptic plane, and other planetary objects in orbit around the Sun. All of these other objects are smaller than Mercury. We recognize that Ceres is a planet by the above scientific definition. For historical reasons, one may choose to distinguish Ceres from the classical planets by referring to it as a "dwarf planet."³

(3) We recognize Pluto to be a planet by the above scientific definition, as are one or more recently discovered large Trans-Neptunian Objects. In contrast to the classical planets, these objects typically have highly inclined orbits with large eccentricities and orbital periods in excess of 200 years. We designate this category of planetary objects, of which Pluto is the prototype, as a new class that we call "plutons".

(4) All non-planet objects orbiting the Sun shall be referred to collectively as "Small Solar System Bodies".⁴

¹ This generally applies to objects with mass above 5 x 10²⁰ kg and diameter greater than 800 km. An IAU process will be established to evaluate planet candidates near this boundary.

² For two or more objects comprising a multiple object system, the primary object is designated a planet if it independently satisfies the conditions above. A secondary object satisfying these conditions is also designated a planet if the system barycentre resides outside the primary. Secondary objects not satisfying these criteria are "satellites". Under this definition, Pluto's companion Charon is a planet, making Pluto-Charon a double planet.

³ If Pallas, Vesta, and/or Hygeia are found to be in hydrostatic equilibrium, they are also planets, and may be referred to as "dwarf planets".

⁴ This class currently includes most of the Solar System asteroids, near-Earth objects (NEOs), Mars-, Jupiter- and Neptune-Trojan asteroids, most Centaurs, most Trans-Neptunian Objects (TNOs), and comets. In the new nomenclature the concept "minor planet" is not used.

So there you have it folks, a planet is any body that orbits a star and can overcome itself to be round is a planet.

Of course however this opens up a giant can of worms.

Mainly the fact that there will be an additional 12 canidates for planetary status.

Some of which many of you are familiar with, such as Senda.

Don't worry loyal readers (if any) I'm not dead...

2006-08-08T17:32:00.000-04:00

Yes I know I haven't updated in a while now.
However I have done something, I have finished the first of five parts of my english summer reading assignment.
So go me!
Also here is a nice picture for you to stare at.

Goodbye Somalia, hello total anarchy.

2006-08-04T11:19:00.000-04:00

Somalia is going to collapse!

As far as I can tell Ethiopia, is in a prime position to take over the south of the country from the southern Islamists.

I wonder why the U.N can't see the de facto anarchy...

Lets play rate and think about this phrase.

2006-07-31T23:20:00.000-04:00

Ok I haven't updated in a little while, so here's a small tidbit.

Escape will make me god. -Durandal from Marathon.

When looking at that phrase one immediately looks and thinks, escape from what?
In the original context it meant escape from the universe, so that durandal's mind could grow to infinity.
Yet, what is a god?
By most definitions it is a being that is omni-potent.
Yet, as we move into the past, we observe that many things we do today are godlike, yet we know that is not true.
Yet there are people who believe that certain technologies are moving into gods area of power.
Yet the same logic applies here as well, to call us gods is absurd.
We are still confined by the laws of physics and every other physical law, or loophole for that matter.
Therefore even if we do develop things like teleportation, FTL, and zero point energy.
We are still confined by those exploited loopholes, and undiscovered principles.
Any god worth his, her, or its salt is never constricted by the laws of any one universe.
Therefore, how do we know that gods extract there power from sources we can not comprehend?
How do they break all laws, and logic for that matter then?
Its because it is innate to them, they are chaotic beings yet, being of order.
They can play both cop, and robber, for their actions are never restricted.
They can contradict themselves, they can die then live again.
Then how can we become like them?
The only answer in this limited universe is brief.
Escape will make us gods.
...
Ok maybe I lied a little and gave you a little too much of a philosophical workout.

What a funky idea.

2006-07-24T09:52:00.001-04:00

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/12757794/?GT1=8307

This giant hybrid blimp/aircraft part of Darpa's walrus program, seems like it will be a useful addition to our fleet of aircraft.

This monstrosity of an aircraft will be at least 300 feet long, or roughly 100 meters.
Like wise it should be able to lift about 100 to 500 (non-metric) tons in its underbelly.
It should also be able to have a Vtol capacity, which makes it easier to land then a comparable sized plane. (I'm looking at you Airbus.)

Unfortunately its seems that DARPA has cut all funding for the program.
Like so many good ideas before it, this too has been pushed to the side.
Yet it seems that there are some good Samaritan out there.
I hear that a cooperation has taken up this idea and is pursing it.
Soon perhaps other deserving projects will be reacused from the scrap yard of ideas by these great Samaritans.

Ok, things are up and running.

2006-07-22T13:52:00.000-04:00

Ok, hi I'm Lawman, a student from the united states with a passion for science, politics, engineering, video games, philosophy, and anything else that might catch my eye.

Soon I will most likely go and rant about something on this blog, so stay tuned!
:)